General opinions on loaning out horses.

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xp0u4076

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As the title says really, I've got myself into a bit of a difficult situation. I have 2 great horses but i'm going into 4th year at uni and realistically dont have time for both.
My 4yo TB sprained her tendon in may and had just over a month of box rest but then between my exams, a full time job and competing my other horse she's not exactly done much.. and now as i get near to going bk to uni i know i'm not going to have the time to do both horses justice!
am i mad to think about loaning her out? its just that i dont want to sell her because i do hope she could be quite special..
aagh! the things that worry me are being handed back a broken pony or somebody ruining her as she's so young..

so basically what are peoples views/experiences with loaning out?
 
I have just started to work for a farrier as an apprentice. I realised i did not have time of day for Ted and he has gone out on loan to a farmers wife. He is an ex racer and at 15 is getting on so he has gone to her to hack and a little local fun rides and jumping.
I would loan him out again if needs must,
Lou x
 
Ive seen a lot of succesful loans but then you do hear the horror stories too...
If you simply dont have the time and the horse will be sitting around idle then it does make sense to find a loaner, but make sure you are 100% with the person and form a proper loan contract so nothing can go wrong.

Have the home vetted first and if possible dont let the horse go too far away so you can visit as regularly as you like to keep check on things.

Good luck
 
On the other side I loaned a couple of horses before I was in a position to buy my own a few years ago. I looked after them just the same as I do my own,fussed over them, worried about their legs on hard ground, and with the last one spent a fortune on lessons to help her schooling (and mine!).
There are good loaners out there who will really appreciate your horse. Good luck in finding one of them.
 
That is a real toughy
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I too am looking to loan, but I know that I would look after whatever came to me like it was my own and it would get 5* star treatment but as the owner, all you have to go by is hearsay, or with any luck references.
I have just been offered something on loan and I am keeping my fingers x'd that it all works out. I am inviting the owner to my place so that she can see where her horse is going to live, she will meet my trainer and my groom (mum
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I have also sent her lots of pics of me competing in all disciplines and can show her video footage too, so I think it's safe to say that she will know as much about me as I can possibly give her.

As your horse is quite young, I do think and i'm sure you will have thought this yourself, but it will be important to your mares future to go somewhere extremely experienced.

I think loaning is fine, as long as you get the right home. Take your time in finding it.
Good Luck
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Ive have loaned lots of our old ponies and horses, the only one that didnt go well was a 4yo, Im afraid. The others were much more established and unlikely to be spoilt.
The home was very knowledgeable but they just didnt do things in the way I would have done and she came back rather lairy. Although she was well looked after.

Whereas I was very disciplined with her they would charge her about at every opportunity and I was tanked off with a few times when she first came back.

You need to find someone who has much the same ideas as yourself when it comes to educating a young horse.
Good luck
 
as a child i always had loan ponies, but they were always old ponies, that had been there, done that and couldnt be changed for all the tea in china!the first few years in a horses career are very important and i would make sure u find someone who is would train the horse similar to how u would yourself, the last thing you want is a spoiled horse back that could have been something special. on a lighter note, tho, find the rite person to loan the horse and at least the horse will be getting regular work and training untill u have time again
 
Am in exactly the same position as you, in that I'm going back to uni in a few weeks and really don't have the time or money to do my 4yo old justice.
We've had a few people come to see her - and consequently have decided my horse is going absolutely nowhere!! We were shocked by how easily people could lie about their ability. We had people claiming to be experts who have worked professionally with horses for over 30 years and they literally could not ride at all.
If my horse was older, and established in her work and ability it wouldn't be such an issue - but this is such a crucial time in her training and sadly I think it would be all too easy for it to go horribly wrong. We've decided my horse has far too much potential to risk letting her be ruined. I think if you can find the right person you'd be fine - but I think finding that person would be like finding a needle in a haystack. Generally people that are experienced in bringing on babies and have the ability to train a young horse, already have their own - or if not are unlikely to want to put in all that work just to hand the horse back at the end of it!!
If there's any other way around it - I would avoid loaning her if you can! Good luck with whatever you decide to do!
 
My friend put her two ponys on loan to a good friends relative,i went to a show some 9 months later out of our area and on a board at a show was her pony advertised for sale,a dealer was selling him,when she rang he had been sold to a family for a young child,the dealer said she had bought the pony in good faith ,and there was nothing my friend could do as she didnt know were the pony was and the dealer wouldnt tell her,the other pony a yearling colt,she never found out what happened to him or were he his,she is distraught,the police didnt want to get involved,please be so careful.
 
I would rather loan than sell as if you sell, you loose all control and the above scenarios can still happen. I have room for horses coming back and I like to retain control.
 
aah dont know what to do! hopefully i can persuade my mum to loan out her older safe hack and then i can keep my 2!
fingers crossed..
 
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